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Thursday, 6 February 2014

Beckham 'at home already' in Miami

Beckham 'at home already' in Miami

Miami:
David Beckham has declared himself "at home already," with the former
football star poised to confirm Wednesday that he will own a Major
League Soccer team in Miami.

It has been one of the worst-kept
secrets in world football that Beckham intends to exercise his option to
buy an MLS club and wants to bring it to Miami, with the plan
contingent on a deal for a privately funded stadium, US media report.

The
former midfielder, 38, who made his name at Manchester United and later
played for Real Madrid, AC Milan and LA Galaxy, is to hold a press
conference on Wednesday at an art museum in downtown Miami, at which he
is expected to announce details of the team.

The MLS said there
would be "a significant announcement impacting the Miami community,"
with Beckham joined by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

The team will be ready for action in 2016 or 2017, the Miami Herald said.

"I
feel at home already and it`s a special place. I am looking forward to
spending a lot more time here," Beckham told Miami local television,
which put his imminent announcement at the top of the Tuesday late-night
news.

"It is very lovely to be welcomed by so many people and so
many people want to help with the whole project," added Beckham, whose
move will further boost his global profile and that of Major League
Soccer.

"It`s an exciting time obviously, hopefully for the MLS
and myself, and being welcomed to Miami like I`ve been welcomed is
unbelievable."

Beckham was given the opportunity to purchase a
team at a discount, reportedly $25 million, as part of the 2007 deal
that lured him to the Galaxy. His investment group in the deal includes
Bolivian billionaire Marcelo Claure and British businessman Simon
Fuller.

Confirmation of the superstar`s latest move for so-called
"Brand Beckham" has been anticipated for months, but it has been held
up reportedly by trouble finding a suitable site in the city for a
stadium that would hold in the region of 25,000 spectators.

Beckham
attended Sunday`s Super Bowl between Seattle Seahawks and Denver
Broncos in New Jersey, and later jetted off for the warmer climes of
Florida to drum up support for his project.

An underwear advert
featuring Beckham, who played more than 100 times for England and was
also captain, was among those shown on television during the Super Bowl,
underlining his prominence in the United States.

Major brands
paid in the region of $4 million for as little as 30 seconds of air time
during America`s biggest sporting spectacle.

Beckham
retired from football in 2013 -- his final stint was with Paris
Saint-German -- but he remains highly marketable and earns handsomely
from endorsements and advertising, as well as performing charity and
fundraising work.

His wife Victoria, a former singer with the
Spice Girls, later moved into the fashion industry, increasing the power
couple`s combined business revenue to almost 100,000 pounds ($160,000) a
day, British media reported in October.

Beckham`s move into
ownership of an MLS team represents a boon to the league and its drive
to increase football`s popularity in the United States.

MLS side
Toronto FC last month swooped for Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe and AS
Roma midfielder Michael Bradley, two major signings for a league that
holds ambitious plans, with teams in New York and Orlando set to be
launched next year as part of an aggressive expansion.